Slow Wide Stories

ADVENTURER BO BAUMGARTNERof Portland, OR

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know freelance photographer and Outbound Adventurer, Bo Baumgartner. Bo is an avid outdoorsman and all-around good guy whose love for travel, hiking, climbing, and skiing (with his wife Erin, and their camper van Deebs) has inspired thousands to get outside and enjoy nature. We've kept in contact with Bo over the past few months and we decided to share a piece of his story with you.Bo’s passion for “any and everything outdoors” is rooted in his early childhood years exploring eastern Arizona. Bo shared his memories of running through the forest day after day as a young boy and hearing his father’s echoing whistle, come dinnertime. Bo’s deep respect and appreciation for nature, can most notably be accredited to his father. Bo recalls a backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon as an eleven year old boy, watching and learning from his skillful father. It was this experience with his father that instilled in Bo a constant yearning to explore and discover new places. This adventurous routine grouped with a rather stellar flow of professional photographs, has caught the attention of many like-minded adventurers including The Outbound Collective Company.Bo’s affiliation with The Outbound as an official explorer began last summer through a connection over Instagram. Bo expresses his appreciation for the company’s mission by stating, “It’s been fun to collaborate with a company that strives to inspire and make it easy for folks to get outside and have an adventure of their own.” For these same reasons, SWT has decided to reach out to Bo and share what it means to be a true explorer.If you visit Bo’s Outbound profile, you would find that Bo and his wife hiked the John Muir Trail (JMT), which winds through the High Sierra Mountain Range, Yosemite Valley, and Kings Canyon and expires on the summit of Mount Whitney. Bo describes the trail as a wonderland decorated with lakes, granite rock, ancient trees, and breathtaking mountain ranges. Upon overcoming what the couple described as “out of shape” long distance hiking, Bo claims that both he and his wife enjoyed the bonding time alone together.

Synchrofest

John Muir Trail

Summit Station, Iceland

It is easy to be inspired by people as passionate about the outdoors as Bo and his family, and we hope that sharing a little of their story will inspire you to get away from the usual grind and enjoy life outdoors. The Slow Wide Turns crew anxiously awaits the many new adventures and stories that Bo and his family will unfold, and we wish them all the best! Thanks Bo!If you would like to see more of Bo, Erin, or Deebs, check out their active Instagram feeds: @bobaumgartner, @shinyd, @vanomadic.